Transport Malta and Arriva yesterday announced a number of bus route changes following suggestions by local councils and the public.
The changes which come into force on November 11 to coincide with the winter timetable changeover are the following: Route 31 and new route 45: Currently route 31 links Buġibba to Valletta via Mater Dei and University every 10 minutes in peak times (between 7 am and 7 pm). This route will now be split in two routes as follows:
Route 31 will continue to operate as it is operating today, from Valletta to Mater Dei Hospital and University, via Iklin, Naxxar (Labour Avenue), Mosta, Burmarrad and linking to Buġibba. The frequency of this route will be every 20 minutes at peak time and every 30 minutes off peak.
A new Route 45, also operating every 20 minutes in peak time and every 60 minutes off peak, will link Valletta to Buġibba, but via Msida, Birkirkara, Naxxar (Labour Avenue and 21st September Avenue), Mosta (Main Street and Constitution Street), Burmarrad, and St Paul’s Bay (Triq Toni Bajada).
This route will provide an additional new link between Birkirkara and Buġibba.
Route 63: The frequency of this route between 6.30 am and 9.30 am is being doubled with services operating between Qormi and Valletta every 30 minutes instead of every hour. This is over and above the other Routes 61 and 62 that also link Qormi to Valletta.
Routes X5 and X7: The timetable of Route X7 is being extended in the evening with the last trip operating at 10.24pm from Vittoriosa and Paola. This will provide connections between Għaxaq and Gudja to Paola even after 7pm. Additionally, Route X5 will have the first trip starting at 5.24am from Marsascala and the last trip from Marsascala will be at 7.54 pm.
Other minor changes include Route 3, which will start and end the journeys in Triq ix-Xatt in Kalkara and not at Rinella.
Route 33 will pass via Msida and Pieta to Valletta, instead of Ħamrun. This is being done to improve journey time, and also to provide links from Swieqi to Msida.
Route 51’s first trip from Mtarfa will start at 5.32 am. Routes 101/102 will no longer be serving Mġarr. The connection between Mġarr and Golden Bay will be retained on Route 44.
Route 119 is being extended to serve Ħal Far (near ETC). It will also start serving Żejtun (Triq id-Daħa San Tumas, Triq President Anton Buttigieg and Triq Marsaxlokk). It will no longer serve the tal-Papa area in Birżebbuġa as this is already served by Route 85.
Route 124 will be going through Triq il-Qaliet in Marsascala instead of Triq il-Kavallieri. Route 213 will be extended to cover tal-Ħawli area in Vittoriosa.
Route 223 will no longer pass through Triq it-Tamar and Triq Cunningham in Qawra, but it will be diverted straight through Triq it-Turisti onto Dawret il-Qawra.
Route X3 will also serve bus stops ‘Nażżarenu’ in Paola in both directions.
Route 313 will be diverted to pass through Kerċem via Triq is-Sarg to better serve the centre of the village.
Route 401 will be extended from Wardija to Għemmieri (limits of Rabat) to provide additional network coverage.